Challenge Series Overview

As APOCABOX subscribers already know, a big part of each box is completing my Survival Skills Challenge issued in each box. Unlike the APOCABOX Survival Skills Challenge, this survival skills challenge series is open for everyone to participate. I’ve teamed up with two survival buddies of mine (Hank Gevedon of Reptile Toolworks and Dave Mead of Mead Longbows) to issue a series of THREE Survival Skills Challenges to take place in between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The purpose of this challenge series is to not only hone your survival skills but to also utilize holiday products/materials that might traditionally be thrown away. As I always say, your most important survival skill is the ability to IMPROVISE. These challenges will call upon those skills and hopefully strengthen them.

Challenge #3: Christmas Tree Snow/Bog Shoes

Traveling in deep snow of wet bog conditions can be extremely difficult in normal footwear. This challenge is to create a set of Snow/Bog shoes using the limbs from your Live Cut Christmas Tree.

Challenge Instructions, Tips & Tricks

STEP 1:

Gather 10 saplings (Christmas tree limbs can work for this) that are ideally about as long as you are. If limbs of this length aren’t available, use the longest ones. Remove/trim any small branches flush with the limb or sapling.

STEP 2:

Each shoe will be 5 sticks wide. Line up 5 of your cleaned saplings/limbs so that all the small ends are together. Tie them together about 2 inches from that end.

STEP 3:

Now cut 1 solid stick that is approximately 1 inch in diameter x 10 inches long. This is the 1st of 2 “BRACE STICKS”. Balance the shoe as best you can on your index finder to find a properly balanced midpoint. This spot is where the heel of your foot will go. Lash the cut brace stick across and on top of the shoe at this point. Lash so that that the 5 saplings/limbs are spaced evenly underneath the 1×10 brace stick. “U” notches on the underside of the brace stick will help keep the saplings in place.

STEP 4:

Tie thick ends of the show saplings/limbs together leaving a width of at least 1” between them. A series of overhand knots are sufficient for spacers. See diagram above.

STEP 5:

Repeat Step 3 to create a second brace for the ball of your feet. Find this point by placing your heel on the brace stick lashed across in Step 3.

STEP 6:

Repeat Steps 2-5 for other shoe.

TYING ON YOUR FOOT

While standing on your shoe, tie/lash around the bottom of your shoe (around the brace under the ball of your feet) and up around your toes, knotting it there. Tie the middle of another section of cordage to that knot and bring the end around your heel and tie them together snuggly there.

**NOTE** Snow shoes will be easier to use if the tip curls up slightly. A cord tied to the tip of the shoe and pulled tightly to the 1st brace and secured can curl them sufficiently. See photo for details.

HOW TO ENTER THE CHALLENGE

Myself, Hank and Dave will be the judges of the completed SNOW/BOG SHOE photos submitted for the challenge. As you can see by the prize details below, there will be three prizes awarded per challenge: an overall winner, a runner up and an honorable mention. To enter, you must submit a photo of your improvised SNOW/BOG SHOES using one of the following:

1: SUBMIT on INSTRAGRAM using the hash-tags: #apocabox AND #holidaysurvivalchallenge

3: Email photo to me at creek@creekstewart.com if you don’t use social media

CHALLENGE DURATION: Challenge starts 12/28/15 and Submission deadline for this challenge is 1/01/16. Prizes will be announced on 1/02/16.

PRIZE DESCRIPTIONS (All prizes must be mailed to someone 18 years of age or older):

OVERALL GRAND PRIZE

5 HUNTING ARROWHEADS – COLLECTOR’S SET

1 of these arrowheads is knapped by a master flint knapper. The other 4 are cast to match its every detail in 4140 tool steel

ABOUT THESE FLINT 2 STEEL ARROWHEADS

Hank Gevedon had an interest in arrowheads long before he met a most talented flint knapper at a bow hunting show. The arrow and spear points that he was knapping were being produced using the same technology that had been used for 10-12 thousand years. The arrow points that he was producing had been in use for over one thousand years on this continent. The technical side of Hank realized that while the stone-age craftsman had reached the limits of his material, he had not. Hank saw a vision of producing an exact replica of the stone point in a super tough tool steel. He then developed a system that allowed him to harden and diamond sharpen these steel replica points. After overcoming several manufacturing hurdles and extensive testing he has now produced an amazing projectile point. Hank is now producing an entire line of Flint 2 Steel arrowheads following these techniques that will be available in the near future. These diamond sharpened points provide amazing serrated penetration on carcasses as well as car doors and steel drums.

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What are STUDENTS saying?

I called Creek in August and he agreed to do a shortened version of the program at our library. He did a two hour program here and my teens LOVED it! I cannot say enough great things about Creek. I personally find it very difficult to find a great presenter for teens, but Creek is a hidden gem.